Electrolytic condenser



1941- A. M. GEORGIEV EI'AL 2,264,900

ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER Filed July 15, 1939 INVENTORS Aummm N Ware/n av Hm Elma/1r Patented Dec. 2, 1941 snacrnonmo CONDENSER Alexander M. Georgiev and Paul F. Koehly,

Dayton, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Dela- Application July 15, 1939, Serial No. 284,760

Claims.

This invention relates to electrolytic condensers and has reference particularly to a construction of simple design adaptable for the well known fuse type of mounting and inclusion in an electric circuit. It is one object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive construction that will be characterized by a high degree of efficiency.

Another object of the invention is to effect it fluid tight seal between a nonconducting casing Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient anchoring means between a metal 010-- sure member and a compressible housing member, for use in electrolytic condensers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a secure .anchoring means for condenser leads and electrode connectors and for electrically connecting the same without resorting to apertures through any of the housing members.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawin wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

The foregoing objects are accomplished gen erally by bringing the tabs or electrode connectors of an enclosed condenser section out of the end of the casing where they are folded over the edge of the casing in a thin mass, and thence by crimping a sheet metal cap member over the end of the housing so that a pair oi concentric flange portions operate to compress the end portion of the casing.

By such a construction the flattened electrode connectors, and also outside leads where they are similarly aflixed, are depressed into the body of the casing member and the flange portions also partially pentrate the body of the housing member to provide a substantial anchorage by which the closure members are anchored to the housing, and by which the electrode connectors and outside leads are in positive electrical communication. The details of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the disclosure.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrolytic condenser constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1, and illustrating the condenser as mounted in a suitable support.

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, somewhat as indicated by the line and arrows 33 of Fig. 1, and partly in elevation, illustrating the means and method of securing the case members together.

Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing one step in the method of assembling and securing.

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view,

illustrating an intermediate step, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the casing and end closure junctures, it being a view substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 6-8 of Fig. 3.

With-particular reference to the drawing, Ill indicates an electrolytic condenser having a tubular casing II, to the ends oi which are secured end members or terminals ll telescopically engaging and crimped upon the end of the tubular member l2. It indicates outside leads of the stranded type having bared portions I! that have been inserted between the casing end and the terminal member it prior to securing the head member thereon.

Within the tubular casing l2 there is a condenser section comprising two or more electrode member's with interleaved spacers, which condenser body is impregnated with electrolyte in the usual manner. Each electrode member is provided with an electrode connector by which electrical communication is carried from the outside of the casing to the active elements of the condenser. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrode connectors comprise a telescoped margin of an electrode that is formed during winding, such as to provide a spiraliform extension 22 extending from either end of the section 20. Such a construction of electrode connectors tends to flattening of the connectors to extreme thi s.

so as to be folded over the edge of the tube [2 as indicated at 24, where it is to be secured by the end closure H.

For closing either end of the housing i2, there is provided a cup member 26, as illustrated in Fig. 4, which has a substantially flat bottom wall 28 bounded by a substantially cylindrical wall 30 having a wide flange 32, the latter of which is either formed, rolled, crimped, depressed or otherwise fashioned to engage along a continuous line pression 54.

on the outer surface of the housing member, substantially as shown in Figs. '2 and 3. Preparatory to effecting the final seal wepropose to roll the edge 34 of the flange 32 inwardly toward the cylindrical wall 30 substantially as illustrated in Fig. 5, thereby fashioning the cup 26 with a rounded terminal edge 36. This step may be performed either after the cup is adjusted on the end of the housing l2 as shown in Fig. 4, or it may be effected before so adjusting, subsequently passing the cup member over the housing l2 substantially as indicated in Fig. In either instance, the electrode connector folded over the edge of the casing l2 will be engaged by the parts 30 and 32 of the end closure and pressed tightly against the body of the casing l2. Likewise, where an outside lead It is used, the bared portion I8 is folded over the edge of the housing l2 as at 38 where it likewise will be engaged by the cup member when adjusted as hereinbefore described. With the parts of the assembly thus adjusted the assembly is thence passed over the end of a roller 40 supported in a journal 42 for driven rotation by a shaft 44 and that cooperates with a second roller 46, the rollers being capable of lateral apedge 36 of the cup is flattened out and caused to be compressed into a substantially flattened section, tov eil'ectivelyblnd the'end of the housing I2; For effecting that result the roller 48 is ribbed at its periphery 48 while the roll 40 is provided with a tooth-like periphery 50.

By the cooperative action of the rollers 40, 46 the rolled-in flange 34 is compressed into substantially concentric parallelism with the cylindrical wall 30 such as to provide a laminated band of metal about the end of the casing l2 substantially as indicated at 52, having a peripheral de- That peripheral portion 54 causes the inner layer 34 of the flange to bite into the proach under yielding force by which the rolled wall of the casing l2 substantially as indicated at 56, and in so doing depresses the bared end of the lead It and the'ends of the electrode connector 22 into the yieldable material of the casing I! as indicated at 58 and 60 respectively."

Also the teeth of the roll acting as a support against which the flanges are compressed produce corrugations 62 extending axially of the cylin-, drical wall 30 of the cup member, all of which tends to increase the binding action between the end member i4 and the end of the tubular member I2. The anchoring relation between these parts is illustrated in enlarged detail in Fig. 6.

For use in condenser construction of this type an inexpensive tubular member 12 may be made use of, and may comprise a paper or flber tube of compressible material which has been impregnated within a fluid proof substance not detrimental to the active elements of the condenser. When such a tube like construction is used it may also embrace a paste board tube that has either been impregnated or coated with a rubber-t like composition. When the tubular member I! is of that character such that it'is moderately compressible, the final forming of the head members l4 into binding engagement with the end of the tube may be ample to secure leak-proof retention of the parts by the binding force produced by the concentric flanges of the head member, and by their compressive force by which the flange part 34 is impressed into the body part of the tube I2. On the other hand, the tubular member l2 may be of more firm and rigid construction and less subject to compressive forces like semi-hard rubber in which instance, we may select to provide a shallow peripheral groove on the outside at the end of the tubular member such as to receive the depressed portion of the inner layer 34 of the outside flange.

In any event a condenser constructed in accordance with the instant invention is characterized for quick and ready mounting in any desirable manner. One manner in which we propose to mount the condenser and connect it into an electric circuit is generally illustrated in Fig. 2, where a supporting member 10, preferably of insulating characteristics, has aflixed thereto plates 12 to which are aflixed spring brackets 14 ending in spring arms 16 and having connector lugs 18 afiixed thereto by rivets 80. Outside Conductors may be attached to lugs 18 as indicated at 82, The spring arms 16 are fashioned with loops 84 adapted to engage within the cup members, and the two spring brackets 14 are spaced longitudinally such as to permit the insertion and withdrawal of the condenser therefrom. In such an installation, there is no need for the outside leads lli being incorporated in the condenser construction. An alternative for connecting the outside leads I6 is to solder them to the outside of the end members I 4. Other means of support for the condenser may necessitate the inclusion of leads It as a permanent part of the condenser construction. Where the outside leads are found in between the end members l4 and the casing end, then the conductive portions, or at least the portions 38 that are compressed into the tube wall and might be exposed tothe electrolyte of the condenser are formed of film forming ma-' terial so as not to introduce any corrosive action within the condenser, where the ends of the conductive portion It! might be exposed to the electrolyte. Otherwise the portion [8 must not come in contact with the electrolyte. For like reasons, the cup members 26 are to be of film forming material such as aluminum, titanium, etc. since they are terminal members for the elements of condenser and are in direct communication with both the electrolyte and the electrodes.

While the embodiments of the present invention as 'herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In an electrolytic condenser, the combination comprising: a condenser section having laminated electrode connectors, a case member comprising a tube of non-conductive compressible material, a metallic end member having concentric flanges adapted to receive between them an end of the tube, means including the concentric flanges of said end members for compressing the body of the tube and for anchoring the end members on each end of the tube end for compacting the fibers of the end in an hermetically-sealed relation; the end of each electrode connector being depressed into the body of the tube between each flange and the tube end wherein anchoring of the end member to the tube ends comprise axially extending corrugations of the innermost flange biting into the wall of the tube, and an annular rib of the outermost flange depressed into entering engagement on the outer surface of the tube end, the material of the tube being compressed without material stretching of the fibers thereof.

. 2. In an electrolytic condenser having a condenser section with connectors surrounded by an impervious nonconducting tubular case, the combination of means to hermetically seal the section within the case and to effect electrical connection with the connectors exterior of the case, comprising in combination, an impervious cap of 'film forming metal channeled to receive the end of the tubular case, a solderable lead exterior of the case and cap adapted for outside communication, said section connector and lead each having conductive portions disposed over the edge of the tubular case and engaging the channel of the cap, said cap being deformed to bite into the body of the tube for sealing the case and for completing electrical conductivity between the section connector and outside lead.

3. In an electrolytic condenser having a condenser section with connectors surrounded by an impervious nonconducting tubular case, the combination of means to hermetically seal the section within the case and to effect electrical connection with the connectors exterior of the case, comprising in combination, a drawn cap of impervious film forming metal providing a pair of spaced concentric walls adapted to receive between them an end of the tubular case, the end of said section connector being disposed across the space between the walls of the cap and over the edge of the tubular case, means comprising deformations of the concentric walls of the cap biting into the material of the tube for anchoring the cap in hermetically sealed-relation thereto,

and for electrically connecting the cap and section connectors with assurance against electroldenser section with connectors enclosed by a non- V conducting open ended case, the combination of means for hermetically sealing the case and for making outside electrical connection from said connector, comprising a minimum number of parts and including an impervious film forming metal cap telescopically engaging the open end of the case and having concentric cylindrical deformable portions disposed one in inserted relation and one in surrounding relation to the case end, the end of said section connector being interposed between the case end and metal cap, anchoring means comprising crimped parts of the concentric portions cooperating to comprise the material of the case end and embed the end of the section connector, said cap and case when so united withstanding gas pressure from within resulting from electrolysis, and maintaining the section hermetically sealed against influx or exit of fluid materials. f

ALEXANDER M. GEORGIEV PAUL F. KOEHLY. 

